Paper-trimming guide.



N0. 632,9l5. Patented Sept. 12, I899. E. W. COMFORT.

PAPER TBIMMING GUIDE.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIcE.

EDIVARD IV. COMFORT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER-TRIMIVHNG GUIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,915, dated September 12, 1899.

Application filed November 11,1897. Serial No. 658,219. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, EDWARD W. COMFORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Paper- Trimming Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in paper-trimming devices to be used in conjunction with an ordinary pair of scissors.

The objects of my invention are to afford facilities for trimming paper of any kind, but especially photographic prints, to any regular form. I attain this result by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing. While it might be constructed of different materials, such as celluloid or even wood, it is preferably made of sheet metal.

The base is represented by the letter A, the stop for the edge of the paper by B, the scale by C, the clamp by D, of which the edge E is the guide. The stop 13 is formed by a continuation of the base A, the scale C by a continuation of the stop B bent still farther over. The clamp D is secured at a fixed angle in reference to the stop 13 and also so that the edge E shall project beyond the edge of the base A. The scale C is so graduated as to read from the guide E.

\Vhile the clamp D is supposed to be actuated by hand-pressure, it may also be in itself a spring which will also clamp a piece of paper placed under it securely against the base A.

My device is to be used as follows: The paper which is to be trimmed is placed between the clamp D and the base A and allowed to project past the guide E to the line to which it is to be trimmed and securely held against the base, either by hand-pressure upon the clamp provided or directly against the paper itself. It is then cut off with the shears and one side of the trimmed product is obtained. The edge of the print thus obtained is placed against the stop B and the paper allowed as before to project the proper distance past the guide E and cut off as before. This operation is repeated until each side of the print is trimmed. If the angle at which the guide E and the stop B are fixed be a right angle, each angle of the trimmed print will be a right angle and a square or rectangle will be the shape of the trimmed product. Itis manifestly clear that the guide E and stop B could be set at such different angles as to produce pentagons, hexagons, the.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paper-trimming device, a base having a step along one edge in combination with a clamp adapted to be actuated by handpressure, one edge of which constitutes a guide, said clamp being secured to the base at some fixed angle with the stop, said guidin g edge projecting beyond the corresponding edge of the base substantially as set forth.

2. In a paper-trimming device, a base having one edge folded over so as to form a stop, and the continuation of said step overhanging the paper to be trimmed, said continuation bearing a figured scale, in combination with a clamp adapted to be actuated byhandpressure, having a guiding edge projecting beyond the base, said clamp being secured to the base at a fixed angle to the stop substantially as set forth and described.

EDWARD w. COMFORT.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS O. PERRY, W. N. PERKINS. 

